The Skinny

The Poof diaper is an interesting eco-friendly option that is made with renewable resources and is biodegradable under certain circumstances. However, this diaper didn't perform well in our tests for absorption with the lowest score in the group, and it scored below average for comfort. While you may be able to overlook the scratchy elastic and motion points, the main goal of a diaper is absorbing liquid and other wastes, which this diaper doesn't seem to do well and is something you can't overlook without potentially disastrous and messy consequences. This makes Poof a product we don't recommend.

Our Analysis and Hands-on Test Results

Review by:
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz

Last Updated:
Friday
July 28, 2017

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Poof was started by a mother of 5, Debra Lee, an award-winning designer. Debra found diaper changes frustrating due to poor features and guilt over how disposable options impact the environment. Debra used her background in textiles combined with technology and innovation to create what they call an environmentally responsible diaper that minimizes its impact on the planet. The company motto is "Better for you baby. Better for our Planet. Poof = Change."

The poof disposable diaper is made with renewable materials including bamboo and non-GMO corn.

Performance Comparison

The comparison chart shown here includes the overall scores for the disposable diapers we tested for this review. The Poof diaper came in the third from the bottom out of 24 products.

The information below provides details on what we liked and disliked about the Poof and why it had a disappointing overall score.

While the poof did not perform well in tests for absorption (see the paper with green "pee") it did perform well in tests for leaks with no run-off in the leak pan.

Likes

This diaper performed well in our tests for leaks with no leaking observed after the mock urine was applied to the diaper. In our research of online reviews from parents on Amazon, the diaper scored about average compared to the competition with few users complaining of leaking problems with this product.

This product also scored above average for health. It is free of most chemicals and additives that cause irritation to baby's skin. Poof claims it is free of perfume, chlorine, latex, lotion, and dyes (see dislikes below).

The Poof feels durable for its short lifespan with soft overall fabric.

This diaper also scored above average for being eco-friendly. Depending on what is important to you, this could make the Poof a desirable option. Poof is made with non-GMO corn and renewable bamboo, as well as being designed to be biodegradable under certain circumstances. However, it is not the only option with these kinds of features and Nature Babycare has similar properties but with a higher score and lower price.

The poof has the lowest score for absorption with an excessive amount of urine captured on the test paper, implying that the core of the diaper struggled to lock moisture away from baby's bottom.

Dislikes

Probably the most significant dislike of the Poof is its performance in our absorption tests. This diaper has the lowest absorption score with a 1 of 10 that tied with the Aleva Naturals Bamboo Baby that had similar test results. During testing, the paper applied to the diaper after it was exposed to our mock urine came back greener, and therefore, wetter than the competition. The Poof diaper consistently had more green on the test paper than any other product we tested. This translates to a wetter surface against baby's bottom and a bigger chance of wet clothes or an inability to soak up what your baby dishes out.

We aren't big fans of misleading advertising. This diaper says dye free, but there are prints on the outside of the diaper which indicate some kind of pigment was used, making "dye free" misleading. We wish there was an agreed upon definition for some of the language manufacturers use. What is the difference between dyes, ink, and pigment? No one knows or can agree. Poof says they use a soy-based pigment, which in our opinion is not the same as "dye free". Poof does offer a partial disclosure list on ingredients but does not offer an allergy certification.

The elastic, motion points and closure tabs on this diaper are rougher than the competition and not very skin friendly.

This diaper scored below average for comfort and we think some babies will dislike the way it fits or feels. While the main fabric feels soft, the elastic and motion points do not. The tabs also abrasive and not skin friendly. It isn't the most uncomfortable option we tested, but it is something to consider with a score below average.

Conclusion

This diaper is an interesting addition to the diaper market and offers parents a more environmentally friendly choice that has limited chemicals that make contact with baby's skin. However, the diaper didn't perform well in tests for absorption, which is the main job of a diaper. It doesn't matter how eco-friendly a product is if it doesn't do its job it isn't worth the price or hassle of ordering a special product that is hard to find.